DAVAO CITY — Revelations of the aggrieved beneficiaries of the government’s financial subsidy from Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro shocked the senators during the Senate Hearing on Tuesday.
During the Senate hearing, beneficiaries revealed that after signing their supposed subsidy they were led to a room where allegedly staff of politicians took their money leaving them with only P1,000.
The financial aid distribution, according to Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib happened eve of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on October 30, 2013 in the municipalities of Asuncion and Carmen.
The Ayuda beneficiaries complained about the cuts from the government’s TUPAD, Education assistance, AICS and even the supposed Free Mass Wedding or Kasalang Bayan in Davao del Norte.
Senator Ronald dela Rosa, chair of the committee said the Ayuda is supposed to help beneficiaries wade through the crisis.
Senator Jinggoy Estrada in his opening statement said he bleeds for the reported Ayuda scam as the program is intended to help the poor recipients “Dapat mapanagot ang mga taong nasanggot dito (Those who are involved should be made answerable)”.
He believes that the scam is not happening only in Davao del Norte or Davao de Oro “I think this is also being implemented nationwide.”
Estrada fumed as he listened to the narratives of the victims “Eto napakatalamak nito, dahil kung sampung libo ang pinapangako, tapos kakaltasan ng 9 na libo, eh anak ng p***, hindi yata katarungan yan. This has to be investigated, not only in the province of Davao del Norte but nationwide,” Estrada said.
The victims
Maila, a college student told the Committee that on October 29, 2023 she received P10,000 for her educational assistance but after receiving the amount she was forced to turn over P9,000 to an unidentified person inside a room in a function hall behind the municipal office of Carmen, Davao del Norte.
Maila continued, “Pagpakapasok po namin doon, may babae po sa table and may isa din pong lalake sa gilid niya, tinanong po ako ng lalake kung nasaaan ang pera ko, ipinakita ko lang po tapos kinuha nya sa kamay ko, binilang niya yung pera, kinuha nya yung 9 thousand, ibinigay niya sa akin ang 1 thousand tapos sabi nya sa akin pwede ka na mag exit.”
An emotional beneficiary identified as Susan said , she signed educational assistance amounting to P5,000 for her child but she only received P500.
Another student named “Angelyn” echoed Maila’s experience, she claimed during the same day and place of the payout, having signed to receive P10,000 but only received P1,000.
“May tao na lalake sinabi na dito ma’am next, so doon na room, like illusion na room, sinabi na saang barangay, sinagot ko na from Barangay Alejal, then kinuha niya yung 9k, then nag exit na ako doon sa exit na sinabi nila,” Angeline said.
The victims alleged that those individuals who robbed their cash assistance work for politicians.
THE COLLECTORS AND THE THREAT
Maila also said many of the of her friends from Carmen recanted their affidavit because they were threatened.
Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib told the Committee, that on Tuesday night, he received calls informing him that other victims do not want to pursue their complaint due to the threats they receive.
Worse, the victims said a staff of Davao del Norte Vice Governor De carlo “Oyo” uy chatted to him via messenger through messenger
Monmon, who resigned as staff of Uy on December 20, 2022 revealed she was among the staff of the Vice Governor who recruited beneficiaries and among those who collected the money from the beneficiaries during payout.
Dela Rosa asked Monmon how much was she able to collect, she at first hesitated but revealed “Personally, yong time nakacollect ako more than P100,000, siguro twice thrice and more than that,”
Showing the threat she received from a staff of Vice Governor Uy, Monmon revaled, she came out because she and her family were threatened by Pear Sunga whom she claimed to be a staff of the Vice Governor.
The message stated, “Ayaw hulata nga kami mohipos nimo (Don’t wait until we will keep you). The message added that she should not provoke the Vice Governor because they cannot assure what will happen to her. She was warned not to tell what she knows and was even offered to work again.
Uy denied that Sunga is not her staff, but Jubahib was quick to say “Pear Sunga is not his staff at the Vice Governor’s Office but she is the one goes to me everytime she needs to follow up on behalf of the Governor until now.”
When asked by dela Rosa Uy does Pear Sunga works with you? the Vice Governor answered “Yes.”
Sunga is the vice president of Metro Shuttle, a bus company owned by the family of the Vice Governor.
Another witness Charlie Estember, who received threat appeared during the committee hearing and revealed everything he knows and admitted he was part of the scam.
He revealed they orient the beneficiaries that they cannot receive the whole amount as he added “Part ako sa nagacollect…Malaki kasi ang involvement namin dito Sir.”
After his revelations, Dela Rosa quipped “Kung totoo yung mga pinagsasabi mo. Napakalaking scam nito ha, napakalaking scam, at kung totoo yang sinasabi mo, ikaw maisama ka pang file-lan nga kaso. Dahil you are part of the scam, you are part of the scheme.”
But Charlie said he was sure that he was telling the truth and ready to face if cases will be charged.
He further revealed that that he is among the staff who claim the unclaimed GIS subsidy.
The witness said, they were afraid to defy the order because they need money and they work.
THE COMELEC PROHIBITION
Commission on Elections Chairman George Garcia during the hearing said, his agency During the October Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, issued a resolution 10944. Prohibiting the use of public funds for 45-days.
Citing Section 8 of 10944, Garcia explained, if the “Distribution of AICS (Assistance to Individual on Crisis Situation) from October 20 to October 30, If the distribution between Oct 20 to 30 it was an absolute prohibition.”
Garcia said he received a request for exemption from Davao del Norte Vice Governor De carlo “Oyo” Uy for cash pay out citing the upcoming pasasalamat and cash payout and Tulong Pangkabuhayan. To grant the request the Comelec sent list of requirements to be submitted for the granting of exemption, Garcia revealed, until yesterday, the Vice Governor has yet to submit the required documents to merit the exemption.
The DSWD, according to Garcia also requested for exemption, but the Comelec, again specifically cited that “The request shall not involve AICS.”
Garcia revealed , a case is pending at law department, case filed by Governor Jubahib “We don’t want to preempt the decision of Comelec,” saying his office has conducted the preliminary investigation “We will closely monitor the proceedings of the committee hearing,” he stressed.
THE DENIAL
Carmen Mayor Leony Bahague was quick to deny knowledge of the incident, pointing out that out of 29 affiants, 26 have recanted their testimonies.
The Mayor said, he only learned about the incident during the committee hearing yesterday,
A woman identified as “Susan” became emotional , insisting that she was also a victim, having brought home only a fraction instead of the full educational assistance for her senior high school student.
Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib also alleged that financial assistance under the AICS or Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program was illegally distributed during the election ban last October 28 in the town of Asuncion, Davao del Norte with candidates running for the barangay elections and supported by Vice Governor Oyo Uy were present, as well as staff members of Uy.
Uy denied attending payouts “I was not there during those said payouts your honor, as to the barangay leaders present, I vehemently deny your honor.”
,DSWD Region XI regional director Vanessa Goc-ong said the October 28 payout did not involve AICS but a payout of financial assistance under the protective services program that was “routinary and normally given by the Department to qualified individuals and covered by a Comelec exemption.
“This is under Item number 32 of the Comelec exemption number 23-05756,” Goc-ong said.
Meanwhile, Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia said a case has already been filed on the matter and the poll body will look into the issue.
Uy denied the allegation and said his office will initiate an investigation into the matter. He added that was not yet in public office in 2021 but Charlie said De Carlo uy was not yet in government but his father Rey Uy was the Vice Governor, who is now the Mayor of tagum City..
“As to the allegation of the previous speaker, I will take note of it although he’s not part of my staff, I don’t know him, I forgot already his name so I will just take note and I will make a separate investigation but as to the allegations…in 2021, I reiterate I (was) not yet a public official at that time,” Uy said.
“I categorically deny all the allegations being said. I am not yet a public official at that time and how can I have access to all those funds,” Uy added.
But Uy revealed he was not yet in public office in 2021 but Charlie said De Carlo Uy was not yet in government but his father Rey Uy was the Vice Governor.
IMMUNITY
Senator dela Rosa approved Senator Koko Pimentel’s motion to grant legislative immunity to Estember and other witnesses unless they are proven lying.
The committee will invite other personalities tagged in the scam to its next inquiry.
